2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara

As you might expect on a short-wheelbase chassis (97.6 inches), interior space is abbreviated behind the already cramped rear seats, so they need to be folded down to carry anything more than a few bags of groceries. There is only 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 50 when they're flattened, which is less than just about every other compact SUV on the market. For instance, the Toyota RAV4 has 68 cubic feet of cargo space, even though both vehicles are virtually the same size on the outside.


The Suzuki has a stiff, body-on-frame construction, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a five-link solid rear-axle. The chassis delivers a stable ride off-road, but it can be a bit choppy on smooth pavement. On the other hand, that short distance between the wheel wells means less chance of getting high-centered on a dirt road, as you scamper over hill and dale—which is made even easier with the low-range transfer case on the 4WD option. Note that many competing makes with more interior room don't have this same level of off-road capability.

The Grand Vitara with V-6 power comes in well-equipped LX trim and uploaded EX. Both are available in two-wheel drive or 4WD traction.

The engine seems adequate enough for the size of vehicle, and initially was leader in output for this class of vehicle. Since its introduction, however, more powerful vehicles such as the Jeep Liberty and Ford Escape have upped the ante by 35 to 45 horses, respectively.


Noticing some rough similarities in the body shape of the Jeep and Grand Vitara, we parked them side-by-side for comparison. It's obvious that the Jeep is a significantly larger vehicle in every dimension, so that power advantage may not be all that obvious in terms of throttle response. However, keep in mind that the Suzuki's towing capacity is a modest 1,500 pounds. EPA fuel mileage estimates are 19 mpg for city driving and 21-22 on the highway.


The Grand Vitara is aimed at customers looking for a mini-SUV that's loaded with amenities usually reserved for the sport-utes of the more expensive midsize class. Other small SUVs offer more in the way of interior room, albeit at a higher price tag and less off-road ruggedness. While the Grand Vitara is not the latest and greatest in mini-utes, it does offer a good value for money, assuming that interior space is less important than luxury features and off-road capability. (www.suzukiusa.com)